Apparatus for treating and advancing filamentary material



1967 K. IWNICK! ETAL. 3,296,630

APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND ADVANCING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Filed Sept.14, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Attorneys Jan. 10, 1967 K. lWNlCKl ETALAPPARATUS FOR TREATING AND ADVANCING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Sept. 14, 1964 EEEE:EEEEZ :2.: LL

lnvenlora 1 /57 fiv/v/ari/ M A itornv '5 Jan. 10, 1967 K. lWNlCKl ETAL3,296,680

APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND ADVANCING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Filed Sept.14, 1964 5 Sheets-$heet 5 Ettes The invention concerns an apparatus fortreating and advancing filamentary material.

In our co-pending application filed on even date hereto, we havedescribed a process for treating filamentary material comprising thesteps of positively forwarding said material continuously and at leastsubstantially tangentially to one end of a treatment zone constituted byan annular space bounded by an outer and an inner cylindrical member, atleast one said member being rotatable about its axis in a direction suchthat it is travelling in the same direction as the forwarded filamentarymaterial at the point of initial contact therewith, of advancing saidmaterial in the axial direction of said members towards the other end ofsaid treatment zone in the form of contiguous helical coils between saidmembers, and of removing said material from said other end of saidtreatment Zone.

The present invention is concerned with specific apparatus for carryingout the above process.

According to the invention, apparatus for treating and advancingfilamentary material comprises an inner cylindrical member and an outercylindrical member, said members defining between them an annular spaceand at least one such member being adapted for rotation about its axis,means closing one end of said annular space and providing an internal,filamentary material-contacting cam surface of helical nature.

Preferably, the member or members adapted for rotation are driven; butif one member is driven, it is a matter of choice whether the othermember be fixed, rotatable by frictional drive from the filamentarymaterial within the annular space, or driven.

If both are driven, normally they will be driven at the same rotationalspeed.

The means closing one end of the annular space can take the form of aflange-like member, the inwardlyfacing surface of which is shaped toprovide the cam surface of helical nature. The object of this camsurface is to cause the filamentary material structure to be axiallydeflected by a small amount, to cause it to take up a helical formationaround the inner cylindrical member within the annular space, so thatcontiguous coils of the structure are formed and advanced axially alongthe space.

Means for treating the filamentary material within the annular space maytake, for instance, any of the usual forms of heating device, such aselectric resistances in contact with one or both cylindrical members,the electrical supply to which is fed through slip rings in the case ofsuch member or members as are rotatable. Alternatively, the cylindricalmembers, being of conductive material may be heated by induction from asurrounding coil carrying an electric current. Or, again, steam or otherhot gas may be introduced into the annular space to heat the filamentarymaterial therein.

Alternatively, the filamentary material may simply be conditioned duringthe period of its axial advance along the annular space.

Preferably, a yieldable closure member is provided for the opposite endof the annular space to the flange-like member enclosing one endthereof. Conveniently, such member may comprise a spring-loadedbell-shaped atet plunger, around the rim of which the filamentarymaterial may be withdrawn by a positive withdrawing action.

In one embodiment of the invention, in which embodiment the apparatusfor treating and advancing filamentary material is mounted to receivecompacted crimped yarn directly on its forced emergence from astuffer-box crimper, as described in a second co-pending patentapplication filed on even date hereto, co-axial inner and outer rightcylindrical members of chromium plated brass or steel are each mountedfor rotation about their axes, the inner such member comprising a rolleron a shaft, being rotatably driven by an electric motor, and the outerSuch member, comprising a cylindrical shell surrounding the roller beingeither fixed or else mounted for rotation within three spaced bearingrollers the cylindrical shell being then driven solely by frictionalcontact of filamentary material with its inner surfaces whilst saidmaterial is rotatably advanced along the annular space defined betweensaid cylindrical members. When the apparatus of the embodiment is usedfor heat-setting crimped bulked nylon yarn for use in carpets, thedimensions of said members can conveniently be 1 /8 for the outerdiameter of the inner roller and 2 /8" for the inner diameter of theouter shell, providing a radial annular space for the filamentarymaterial. The length of the annular space is 3" in such case.

A non-rotatable, flange-like member closes the annular space at the endthereof directly in line with the crimping chamber of the stutter-boxcrimper. Such flange-like member, also of chromium-plated brass orsteel, has an internal cam surface comprising a helix.

Both the roller and the outer, cylindrical shell may be heated byelectric resistance heaters secured thereto on the non-yarn-contactingsides of their peripheral surfaces. A heater for the roller can be fedthrough slip ring-s on the driving shaft of the roller; and a heater forthe cylindrical shell can be fed through slip rings on a cylindricalprojection thereof surrounding the yarn-discharge end of the apparatus.

At that discharge end, the last coil of compacted crimped yarn is urgedaxially inwardly by a spring-loaded bell-shaped plunger whose spindle isslidably mounted within the shaft of the roller and co-axiallytherewith.

Instead of having smooth surfaces, the yarn-contacting surfaces ofeither the roller or the cylindrical shell, depending on which is beingdriven, may be axially fluted or ribbed, so as to provide a series ofrecesses into which the yarn is packed. Such an expedient overcomes anytendency of the yarn to slip relatively to the surface of thecylindrical member that is being driven.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagram of a combined drawing and crimping lay-out inwhich the invention is employed;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal partly sectional view, through XX of FIGURE 3of crimping and advancing apparatus embodying the principle of theinvention;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view, through YY of FIGURE 2, of thesaid crimping and advancing apparatus;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a flange-like member employed in the saidcrimping and advancing apparatus;

The undra-wn yarn is then forwarded under tension to the drawing stagecomprising feed roll 11, with its separator roll 13, and draw roll 17,with its separator roll 19. Between the feed and draw rolls the yarn iswrapped around snubbing pin 15 to locate the point of draw. The pin maybe heated by internal electric resistance means (not shown).

On departure from the draw roll 17 the yarn is fully drawn, and it isnow directly submitted to crimping in the compression crimping stage.

The compression crimping apparatus comprises feed roll 21, whoseperiphery is directly driven by that of crimper roll 23, and crimperrolls 23 and 25. The drawn yarn is passed under feed roll 21, throughthe nip between it and crimper roll 23, and thence drawn through the nipof crimper rolls 23, 25 into the crimping chamber generally indicated at27.

From the crimping chamber, the crimped yarn passes directly into theannular treating chamber generally indicated at 29.

Both said crimping apparatus and said annular treating chamber will bemore specifically described with reference to FIGURES 2 and 3; but inFIGURE 1 it is shown that a rotary part of said annular treating chamberincludes driving wharl 35 fixed to a shaft rotatable in axially spacedbearings 33. Slideable axially of said shaft is spindle 37 ofbell-shaped plunger 31, the latter serving as closure member for thedischarge end of the annular treating chamber 29.

The yarn on withdrawal from the annular treating chamber 29 is crimped,and is now designated Y Withdrawal is effected by rotation of wind-uproll 57 carrying package 55 by the surface drive of said package fromthe periphery of drive roll 53. Crimped yarn Y, is passed through threadguide 43 on the axis of the annular treating chamber, and thence aroundtensioning bollards 45 for imparting a low tension to the yarn so thatit is in even condition when passed around the periphery of magneticparticle yarn brake 47. Finally, the yarn is passed over pin 49 andthence through reciprocating thread-guide 51 for traversing the yarn onto the wind-up package 55.

The regulation of the amount of yarn within the annular treating chamber29 is performed by the function of the bell-shaped plunger 31 and theyarn brake 4-7. The plunger 31 is spring-loaded and hence its axialposition with respect to the chamber 29 will give an indication of theamount of yarn compacted within the chamber. Movement of the plunger 31and its spindle 37 is arranged to be transmitted, via the lever 39 and acam fixedly mounted to the pivot thereof, to roller 41 on the springarmof a micro-switch.

The micro-switch is contained in an electrical circuit fed from thealternating current mains via two-tap transformer '59. Depending onwhether the switch is made or broken alternating current at either ahigh or a low voltage is supplied from the thus selected tapping of thetransformer to rectifier circuit 61. The direct current output of saidrectifier, at either the high or the low voltage, is fed to magneticparticle yarn brake 47, whereby more or less braking effect is impartedto the crimped yarn. The more the yarn is braked, the higher will be thetension in the yarn between the brake and the wind-up; and, as thecrimped yarn is extensible, the higher the tension the less amount, inweight, of yarn will the wound in unit time. Hence, the amount of yarnwithdrawn from the annular treating chamber in unit time can becontrolled by these means.

The crimping and advancing apparatus shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3 embodiesthe principle of the invention wherein yarn or the like is treated inan. annular chamber whilst being advanced in contiguous coils axially ofthat chamber.

In the embodiment depicted in these two figures, yarn Y is fed by feedroll 21 into the nip of crimper rolls 2- 3, 25, as already describedwith respect to FIGURE 1.

The crimping chamber 27 of the stulfer-box type of compression crimpercomprises back wall 70, front wall 77 and side walls 67, 69. These wallsare shaped at their lower ends to fit closely against the outercylindrical shell 71 of annular treating and advancing chamber 29.

The inlet end of the chamber 29 is closed by flange-like closure member63 having an inwardly-facing helical cam surface 79-81 extending over atleast 360 of an arc, which will be described in greater detail withrespect to FIGURES 4-7, in which it alone is depicted.

The crimped yarn is forced in a compressed column from the crimpingchamber directly downwardly into the annular treating chamber, aroundwhich it is advanced in contiguous coils 75 of compressed yarn nature.

The annular chamber is formed by the fixed outer cylindrical shell 71and the inner rotatable roller 73. The surface of the roller 73 iscorrugated longitudinally, i.e. in the axial direction.

The discharge end of the annular chamber is provided with a closuremember in the form of bell-shaped plunger 31, around the rim of whichthe crimped yarn Y is withdrawn through guide 43. The plunger 31 islightly held in contact with the furthermost coil of compressed yarn byreason of compressed spring 65 by which its spindle 37 is urged in theleftward direction of FIGURE 2.

As shown partially in FIGURES 2 and 3, and fully in FIGURES 4-7, theflange-like member 63 has an inwardly-facing helical cam surface 79-81of some 405 in arcuate extent. By such means the first coil ofcompressed yarn is formed and is kept separate from the succeeding coilso as to avoid entanglement of the filaments of the respective coils.This is best understood from a consideration of FIGURE 6; the compressedmass of crimped yarn is forced into the rectangular space bounded by theflange 66 on one side, the end 811 of the helical cam surface on theopposite side, a flat surface 78 cut in the cam surface support and theback wall 70 of the crimping chamber (not shown in FIGURE 6).

As described with reference to FIGURE 1, the rotatable roller 73 of theannular treating chamber is positively driven from wharl 35, and itsshaft is supported in axially spaced bearings 33. The spindle 37 ofplunger 31 is slideable within said shaft against the force of spring65.

If it is desired positively to treat, e.g. to heat-set, the yarn in theannular chamber 29, and not merely to condition it therein during itsaxial advance the outer cylindrical shells 71 may have an electricalresistance heater jacket attached exteriorly thereof. Alternatively, orin addition, the interior of roller 73 may be provided with electriccartridge heaters, the electric supply to which can be via slip-rings onthe shaft between bearings 33.

The invention will now be described, by -way of example only, by thespecific operating conditions of processes for crimping yarns ofpolyhexamethylene adipamide.

Example I Three ends (single yarns) of drawn 1040 denier/68 filamentcontinuous-filament yarn of polyhexarnethylene adipamide were withdrawnfrom draw-twist packages by means of rolls as illustrated in FIGURE 2,and a tension of 200 grams was applied to each end by pulling the yarnthrough a tension-imparting device.

The crimping rolls were positively driven at a pcripheral speed of 1500feet/minute; and the fluted roller of the annular treating chamber wasrotated at 35 revolutions per minute. Under these conditions, 12 coilsof compressed yarn were maintained within the annular chamber, which washeated to 180 C. by means of an electric resistance in an annular jacketsurrounding the outer cylindrical shell.

The crimped yarn was withdrawn and wound-up according to the arrangementdepicted in FIGURE 1, the wind-up speed being 1300 feet/minute. Themagnetic particle brake oscillated between a high setting of 300 gramsand a low setting of grams.

The erimped yarn was adequately bulked, having a skein length (15 gramsweight) of 12% inches.

Example II Three ends (single yarns) of undrawn 3600 denier/ 68 filamentyarn of polyhexamethylene adipamide were withdrawn from spinningcylinder supply packages, and drawn at a draw ratio of 3.7:1 and crimpedaccording to the arrangement depicted in FIGURE 1. The crimped rollswere positively rotated at a peripheral speed of 1500 feet/minute; andthe fluted roller of the annular treating chamber was rotated at 42revolutions per minute. No heat was supplied to the walls of the annulartreating chamber, the temperature of which rose at 90 C. due to the heatimparted from the yarn.

12 coils of compressed yarn were maintained in the chamber.

The crimped yarn was bulked to an equivalent skein length value to thatof the yarn of Example I, the actual skein length being 15 /2 incheswith a weight of 60 grams employed, rather than 15 grams.

Example III The conditions of Example II were the same except that theperipheral speed of the crimping rolls was 3000 feet/minute, and therotational speed of the roller in the annular treating chamber was 85revolutions per minute.

Example IV The process described in Example II was repeated forequivalent undrawn yarns of Terylene polyester fibre, but in thisinstance the snubbing pin was heated and the yarn was forwarded from thedraw roll to the stutter-box feed rolls at a low degree of mechanicalunderfeed, i.e. the feed rolls were rotated at a peripheral speedslightly higher than that of the draw roll.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus of the invention has beendescribed in the examples and with reference to the drawings inconnection with the specific embodiment of an annular advancing andtreating chamber for use in combination with a stufler box crimper; butsuch an application of the invention is but one that is presentlyimportant.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for treating and advancing filamentary material consistingof (a) inner and outer cylindrical members defining between them anannular space in which filamentary material is to be treated, at leastone of said members being adapted for rotation about its axis, and

(b) means closing one end of said annular space, the inwardly-facingside of which means is provided with a filamentary material-contactingand advancing cam surface of helical nature.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 and having a yieldable closure memberfitted at the other endof said annular space.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 and having a springloaded bell-shapedplunger fitted as a yieldable closure member at the other end of saidannular space.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 and having means positively to drivesaid inner cylindrical member, the surface of which member is fluted inthe axial direction.

5. Apparatus for treating and advancing filamentary material consistingof (a) an inner cylindrical member the surface of which is fluted in theaxial direction,

(13) means for rotating said member,

(c) an outer, stationary cylindrical member, defining with said innercylindrical member an annular space therebetween, in which filamentarymaterial is to be treated, and

(d) a flange-like member closing one end-of said annular space, theinwardly-facing side of which memher is provided with a filamentarymaterial-contacting and advancing cam surface of a helical natureextending over at least 360 of are.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 and having a cam surface on theinwardly-facing side of the flange-like member of a helical natureextending over 405 of are.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,760,252 8/1956Shattuck 281 3,096,562 7/1963 Russo et al. 2872 3,108,352 10/1963Haigler et a1 28-1 3,217,482 11/1965 Baer 281 MERVIN STEIN, PrimaryExaminer.

L. K. RIMRODT, Assistant Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND ADVANCING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL CONSISTINGOF (A) INNER AND OUTER CLYINDRICAL MEMBERS DEFINING BETWEEN THEM ANANNULAR SPACE IN WHICH FILAMENTARY MATERIAL IS TO BE TREATED, AT LEASTONE OF SAID MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS AXIS, AND (B)MEANS CLOSING ONE END OF SAID ANNULAR SPACE, THE INWARDLY-FACING SIDE OFWHICH MEANS IN PROVIDED WITH